If you watched how Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole on Thursday at The Players, you will likely remember his closing three for quite some time. After missing the short grass again off the tee, McIlroy’s ball settled down in the pine straw to the right of the fairway.

McIlroy had seven birdies in Thursday's opening round even though he hit only four of 14 fairways on the Stadium Course.

There is a phrase used in the PGA Tour’s Shotlink system that we’ve rarely noticed: “tree outline.” Maybe it’s more prominent in the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass because there are several nurseries worth of trees here,

Rory McIlroy has been known to take some sharp U-turns on his opinions over the last few years, particularly as it relates to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He was willing to state another position Wednesday as strong as any.

Villegas, J.J. Spaun and Lucas Glover all shot 6-under 66 to share the Day 1 lead at The Players Championship.

McIlroy, who added that he still has plenty of things he hopes to accomplish in his golf career, has myriad interests outside of golf including as the co-founder of TGL and a growing business portfolio,

Rory McIlroy has no interest in playing on the Champions tour down the road: "Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50."